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WEC Energy (WEC) Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates

WEC Energy GroupWEC reported first-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. Quarterly earnings surged nearly 21.1% from the year-ago level. Thanks to its long-term planning and execution, the company was able to deliver strong performance in the reported quarter, despite milder temperatures in its service territories that limited customer demand across the Midwest.

WEC Energy’s total revenue was $2,194.8 million, up 58.1% year over year. Reported revenues also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,110 million by 4%. The increase was driven by additional revenues of $980 million from the Integrys acquisition.

Highlights of the Release

Residential use of electricity in first-quarter 2016 was down by 4.2% year over year. Electricity used by small commercial and industrial customers declined a marginal 0.2%. Electricity use by large commercial and industrial customers – excluding the iron ore mines in Michigan's Upper Peninsula – was down 0.8%.

Total operating expenses in the quarter under review rose 56% year over year to $1605.5 million, mainly due to higher operation and maintenance, depreciation and amortization expenses, and property and revenue taxes.

Operating income in the reported quarter was $589.3 million, up 64.2% from $358.8 million a year ago.

The company’s net interest expenses in the first quarter increased 69.9% year over year to $100.9 million.

At the end of Mar 2016, Wisconsin Energy’s natural gas and electricity customers increased by 11,000 and 8,000, respectively.

Financial Position

As of Mar 31, 2016, WEC Energy had cash and cash equivalents of $34.7 million, compared with $65.2 million a year ago.

In the quarter under review, cash flow from operating activities was $695.9 million, substantially higher than $330 million in the year-ago period. WEC Energy invested $312 million during the first quarter as capital expenditure, compared with $153.2 million in the prior-year period.